Inspirational people

This morning I had two conversations; one with a lady who has lived through breast cancer, had a back injury which meant she couldn’t walk for 17 months, and has been widowed twice, the other with a man who is struggling to manage his wife’s illness and her reluctance to do things that may help her have a better quality of life. From the first conversation I was left thinking wow she’s been through so much, what an inspiration and in the second I was being hailed as an inspiration.

What makes someone inspirational?

I have a vague memory of being asked, at a much younger age, who I found inspirational and struggling to come up with anyone. Of course the right answer should always without fail be your own Mum or Dad… so says the mum!

But how do we choose someone?

Excluding childhood because my memories of that are rather hazy, I can honestly say that I have encountered inspirational people at every point in my life. From – the friend who had several early miscarriages and still hoped that one day she would carry a baby to full term – to – the friend with young children who lost her husband to suicide – to – the families whose child has run away from home and is missing – to people who show great strength following life changing accidents – the list is endless.

I think that our view of inspiration is guided by our own experiences and the empathy we feel in understanding the struggle in another’s situation. A child may look to actors or pop stars (or youtubers?!) as positive role models until one of their classmates has a significant illness or injury to deal with, and it’s then that they begin to understand that real life and real people are the source of inspiration.

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Lovely, lovely post. For me I think it’s those people participating in the Invictus Games for example. Their determination and hard work to overcome such obstacles. Yes, I find them inspirational. Katie x

We are fortunate that we can truly find inspiration for so many different sources, if we only just look. It could be a blog that we read, a song that we hear or a conversation that we have. Keep up the amazing work that you do, as you are an inspiration to many yourself.